Lenovo Unveils ThinkPad X1 Hybrid Laptop Packing Secondary ARM SoC

Earlier today, Lenovo has announced the new ThinkPad X1 Hybrid laptop that was designed to sport a secondary operating system and an ARM-based Qualcomm SoC in order to deliver up to 10 hours of battery life to its users.

This system is called the Instant Media Mode, IMM for short, by Lenovo and runs a Linux-based OS that can be activated by simply clicking an icon on the laptop's home screen.

Powered by a dual-core Qualcomm chip and featuring up to 16GB of memory, the OS can be used to watch videos, view photos, listen to music and browse the web while preserving precious battery life.

In the 13.3-inch ThinkPad X1 Hybrid, the special IMM hardware can be paired together with Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processors and the Windows 7 operating system.

Other features include optional mobile broadband, a high definition display with Corning Gorilla Glass (the exact resolution isn’t mentioned), a HD webcam, a fingerprint reader as well as support for Intel’s vPro technology.

In addition, Lenovo has also introduced Dolby Home Theater v4 sound, an HDMI port and Intel Wireless Display technology to connect and stream 1080p video wirelessly to a TV or projector.

Support for Lenovo’s Rapid Charge is also included, so the battery can be charged up to 80 percent in just 30 minutes.

"The ThinkPad X1 Hybrid and T430u Ultrabook represent the next generation in thin and light computing," said Dilip Bhatia, vice president, ThinkPad Business Unit, Lenovo.

"From small businesses that literally live their life on the road to corporate professionals working in a managed environment, these new crossover laptops fundamentally change the way people think about mobile computing technology."

According to Lenovo, the ThinkPad X1 Hybrid laptop will be available starting with Q2 2012, while pricing is expected to begin at £545 ($845 US).